Mayoral candidates have battled it out to be the voice of Manchester’s creative, media and digital community.

Labour MP Andy Burnham and Trafford councillors Conservative Sean Anstee and Jane Brophy of the Liberal Democrats were quizzed by sector experts at an MPA event.

Held at the Neo Building on Charlotte Street, Manchester, the packed audience mulled over the potential mayors as they discussed everything from homelessness to the possible re-location of Channel 4.

Chair Christian James, MD of The if agency, kicked things off with research that showed 'as a sector we have no idea whether the metro mayor is a good or bad idea.'

In their opening pitches Burnham declared ‘we are on the cusp of a great moment for Greater Manchester’ and drew on his cabinet level experience as the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to represent the 300,000 plus employed in the sector.

He described Manchester as the ‘modern industrial capital of the UK’ and a world leading city for digital.

Later he backed this up by promising to deliver a digital summit within 100 days of being elected.

Brophy took a wider scope bringing in her experience ‘on the frontline of healthcare’ and promising to be ‘a champion for wellbeing’.

“Without the right mental and physical health a workforce are not able to be creative”, she said.

Her opening bid also touched on better transport, ticketing, a focus on tackling air pollution and congestion in the city.